Frequently Asked Questions
THE ANSWERS YOU NEED
WHAT KIND OF SNAKES DO YOU TAKE IN?
We take in any snake we get. Big or small, no matter the temperament. Every snake we take in will get a home, whether with us or through an adopter. If you want to know what snakes we have in right now, check out our Adopt and Sanctuary pages!
HOW DO I SURRENDER MY SNAKE?
If you have a snake you can't take care of or need to give up for whatever reason, you can shoot us an e-mail at shadyserpents@outlook.com, or call us at 780-882-1624. We can meet up with you and arrange the surrender. All you have to do is fill out our surrender agreement, and we'll do our best to give the snake a great home. You have to be the legal owner of that snake to surrender it.
***We will not pay for surrendered snakes. The choice to surrender is yours completely, and due to the financial constraints of running a rescue, we can not offer financial compensation for your snake.***
IS THERE A SURRENDER FEE?
Due to the costs of running a rescue, we charge a surrender fee for each snake.
Snakes under 2 feet - $50
Snakes 2-5 feet - $75
Snakes over 5 feet - $100
OR instead of a cash fee, you can pay by donating a tank, hides, or other supplies that are equal to the fee!
We understand that sometimes having the funds to pay fees can be hard to come by, which is why we take in alternate payments.
With the surrender fee in place, it helps us keep the rescue going, and help to cover the costs of getting each snake set up with their own tank and supplies.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SURRENDERED SNAKES?
When we get a snake surrendered to us, they go into quarantine for at least 1 month to make sure they have no diseases or issues we didn't notice at first glance. During that time, we get the snakes up to a healthy weight, make sure they're eating correctly, and try to switch them to frozen/thawed mice if they are eating live. Before they're put up for adoption, each snake gets vet checked by a certified veterinarian to make sure they're perfectly healthy to adopt out. After the quarantine time, they're moved to our adoptee page, and they're open for people to look at and take home!
HOW DO I ADOPT A SNAKE?
If you're looking to adopt one of our snakes, that's great! Give us an e-mail at shadyserpents@outlook.com, where you'll fill out our Adoption Form. On there, you can list what kind of snake you're looking for, what size you would like, etc. Or, if we have a snake in that you would already like, you can choose that specific animal!
Once we get a snake in that fits the description you're looking for, we'll give you a call or an e-mail, and we can arrange the completion of the adoption then!
DO I NEED A TANK SET UP BEFORE I CAN ADOPT?
Yes, you do. If you don't know what to get for your tank, check out our Snake Care page. Contact us and we can give you specifics of what you need for the snake you're interested in. And if you don't want to go through all of the trouble, we can offer to sell you a complete tank set up with the adoption for an additional fee.
CAN I COME SEE THE SNAKE IN PERSON BEFORE I CHOOSE?
Of course! Let us know when you're available and we can meet up and you can come and look at the snakes. We will ask you to sanitize/wash your hands in between each snake to prevent the spread of disease as well as before you leave.
WHAT IF I SEE A SNAKE I WANT BUT DON'T HAVE A TANK?
What we can do then is we can hold the snake for you for a maximum of 2 weeks. We can't hold it for any longer in case someone else wants the same snake, and we have to offer it to the best home we can. Those 2 weeks will give you a chance to get a tank set up beforehand.
WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE DO I NEED TO ADOPT?
You don't need any previous reptile experience to adopt your own snake. But we will send a care sheet home with you, and check in after 2 weeks to see how you're doing. If you ever have any questions, you can always contact us.
I HAVE A DIFFERENT KIND OF ANIMAL I NEED TO SURRENDER
If you have something else you need to surrender, we do have contacts with other rescues. Northern Amphibians will take in amphibians (axolotls, salamanders, frogs, toads, etc.), tortoises, and box turtles. Any furry friends you have, however, must go to the SPCA. We can't take those.
WHAT DO YOU FEED YOUR SNAKES?
All of the snakes in the rescue eat frozen/thawed mice. We do our absolute best to switch any snake we get from live to frozen, because it is safer for the snake, an healthier as well.
MY SNAKE WON'T EAT/HAS STUCK SHED/OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEMS
If you think something is wrong with your snake, please take it to the vet. We are a rescue, not a clinic. We can offer basic advice, but we can not offer medical advice beyond that.